Slovakia - Basic Information

GETTING THERE

BY AIR

BratislavaBratislava Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe. Until a few years ago it only handled seasonal charters and connecting flights to Prague. Today, however, Bratislava is a dynamic hub for national and international connections.

Vienna AirportJust 30 minutes by car from downtown Bratislava and served by major international airlines, Vienna Airport at Schwechat is a favorite port of entry that serves the two closest national capitals in Europe.

PopradPoprad airport, in northern Slovakia, lies within an hour’s drive of Slovakia’s main mountain and winter sports resorts and increasingly serves as the principal gateway to the High and Low Tatra regions.

KošiceServed by regular flights from Bratislava, Prague and Vienna, Košice is the easternmost international airport in Slovakia and affords convenient access to all corners of Eastern Slovakia.

BY RAIL AND ROAD

Bratislava, the Slovak capital, is Slovakia’s main rail hub, with direct, frequent train service to and from Vienna (56 minutes), Budapest (2-1/2 hours) and Prague (4-1/4 hours). By car or coach, Slovakia is easily reached from neighboring countries by motorway and secondary roads.

BY THE DANUBE

In summer, hydrofoils to Bratislava run from Vienna and Budapest.

GETTING AROUND

Slovakia has an extensive rail and road network. Several comfortable Intercity (IC) trains commute daily between Bratislava, Liptovský Mikuláš (in the Low Tatras), Poprad (in the High Tatras) and Košice, and most towns and many villages are on local rail lines. The Slovak motorway system is constantly being expanded, and within a few years the east and west of the country will be well connected by modern four-lane highways. In addition, there are regular domestic flights between Bratislava and Košice.

Official name: Slovenská republika (Slovak Republic)

Population: 5.379 million inhabitants (2003)

Capital: Bratislava (446,819 inhabitants)

Language: Slovak, but many people, and particulary young people, speak English or German

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Time: GMT + 1 hour (GMT + 2 hours during daylight saving time)

Visa: Slovakia is a member of the Schengen zone. None required for EU, US, or Canadian citizens. For a detailed list of countries and visa requirements see www.foreign.gov.sk